New West End GUYS AND DOLLS — Page 2

This is probably one of my least favorite shows ever - having only seen the Platt revival - but I love the director/designer of this, so very interested. If you take away the immersive experience, is there anything new? Or is the sho the immersive experience? If that makes sense. Also, where would this end up here? Likely the Circle?

RippedMan said: "I still remember watching the last Guys and Dolls in London on YouTub and loving it and then seeing the Oliver Platt revival and thinking the show was so dull."

The Platt/Lauren Graham revival was one of the worst productions of the show I've ever seen. I've seen community theater productions do a better job. It's really hard to screw up this show and Des McAnuff did so. Trujillos' choreo wasn't even that good.

I’m curious about the changes to the Havana scene.

While the atmospheric aspect is fun, there is some energy that is missing in there. Mostly the choreography in Runyonland, The Gambler's Dance and Sit Down You're Rockin the Boat. The lack of space doesn't help and the choreography looks like people just fighting for space.

I did like the new take on Black-sassy Adelaide - what a voice! It was suspension of disbelief to buy that such a strong-willed lady would wait 14 years for a guy, but it was cute.

The two numbers that worked best for me were Take Back Your Mink and If I Were a Bell.

I find the show to be a bore as well.

Saw it yesterday from the stalls. It is a lively production of a generally crowd-pleasing show. Doesn't break enough ground for me to suggest people pay top dollar for it, but if you can get a decent seat at a decent price, it is a nice evening out.

Owen22 said: "Incidentally, this is where the show will play in New York when Here Lies Love inevitably closes too soon:https://youtu.be/nadDdEpnBdI"

If that's not the case though, could this work at Circle in the Square?

Thought I bump this thread to share my thoughts on this production!

★★★★★(★)
During my time here in London, I never thought I would get to take a trip back to New York as well. However, I did just that today at the Bridge Theatre here in London with their immersive production of Guys & Dolls! I didn’t realize till a few months ago that this show is probably the most popular American musical here in the UK. They always revive it every 5 to 10 years and they seem to do better and better each time. From the moment you enter the space, you are transported to 1950s NYC! The whole experience starts the moment you walk in. Now, you do have the choice to either sit or stand. I chose to sit because I don’t think I could stand for almost 3 hours. At any rate, this was a phenomenal experience! The performances by this multi-talented cast is something not to be missed! Especially the star Marisha Wallace as Mrs. Adelaide! Her Act 2 opening number, “Take Back Your Mink” just blew me away! As well as the CRAZY TALENTED Cedric Neal as Nicely-Nicely! Holly hell! His 11 o’clock number, the iconic “Sit Down, You’re Rocking The Boat”, became this gospel melody that had EVERYONE ON THEIR FEET when it ended! So good that he did it again and the crowd went wild! Even better, he DID IT AGAIN! Three times replaying the iconic song just made me happy! This whole experience will surely be a core memory in my theatre experiences and by far the BEST show I’ve seen in London so far! American audiences need to see this, so I hope a potential Broadway transfer is possible in the future! If not, I’m just glad I got to experience it! What a show! This show deserves a sixth star! Bravo!

If anything, Marisha Wallace and Cedric Neal NEED to come over if this transfers! I was just BLOWN AWAY by Cedric’s Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat! After looking around at the space, they totally can do this in a large proscenium theatre like the Broadway, or even the Palace, but this would require even further renovations because of the rising floor. I’m just glad I saw it and that a cast album is coming soon. If they can’t transfer it, fingers crossed that they will film it for future release. It’s just too good to not share with people outside London!

RippedMan said: "Is this considered West End? Or I wonder if there is potential to transfer it there first?"

The Bridge is not West End and I was looking it up and it's not affiliated with the Society Of London Theatre, so I don't believe it'll be Olivier-eligible either. So maybe they will look at @sohoplace or a Here Lies Love-style reno for another West End/Olivier-eligible venue first.

binau said: "I found the male dancing a LITTLE unexpected and forced but overall I'd say it works. A guy just asks Sky if he wants to dance and in a kind of hypermasculine "I'm comfortable with my sexuality so why not" pause and look he starts dancing with the guy in a kind of playful way (gay but not romantic, if that makes sense).

I caught the show from the 'immersive' section. I'd say the tone of the revival to me is "transfer immediately to circle in the square and win best revival Tony" vibes. I haven't seen Here Lies Love so I don't have a good sense of whether the novelty of this show suddenly pales or feels old, but honestly it is very rare to have theatre experiences these days that feel genuinely innovative and this is one.

A lot of people seem to be happy to not sit in the immersive section but this is where all the action is. Seeing some of those performances up-close, particularly the exceptionally well sung and acted performances from Marisha Wallace (who I would expect would transfer with the production if it ever came and could be in the running for a Tony) and Celinde Schoenmaker (who is the other person in the production I'd like to transfer and would probably at least be nominated for supporting actress). And yes, you are being moved around a little and things are moving around but that's all part of the fun.

"Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat" really really elevated the energy in that theatre to unbelievable levels and it reminded me of seeing Bernadette sing "Send in the Clowns" where you feel everyone in that audience is completely lost in the world and loving every second of it. Absolutely incredible.

That said, can I please lead the charge and get this show dismantled from the 'greatest ever musical' list as the theatre loves to advertise out the front. Sorry but this shallow musical comedy is no where near what I'd put on a 'greatest ever musical' list, which would of course be littered with people like Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, Jerry Herman, R&H etc. I think what this show has is a KILLER, melodic score and some of those magical songs are immediately enjoyable for audiences. Otherwise thin characters, thin story, too long, too many cliches. We have moved so far past 'Guys and Dolls' I can't even see how anyone could say this is one of the greatest with a straight face."

I'm saying it with a straight face and every other kind of face. You have your opinion and many disagree with it and the world goes round. The show brilliantly does what it set out to do - take Damon Runyon's characters and build a great musical around them. You can't compare this show to a Kander and Ebb show, for heaven's sake. Or a Sondheim show. It wasn't written today, it was written many years ago - it holds up perfectly. I'm sure you'd hate Li'l Abner, too, which also has a wonderfully funny and clever book.

The MTI website lists about 100 current or upcoming productions of Guys & Dolls across the country.

Bringing it to Broadway requires more than some gimmicky production with no-names from London. Is that really any better than seeing someone's nephew do it at their highschool?

According to reddit, Bryan Cranston made a statement at a showing of Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City at the Angelika in New York that he will soon be returning to Broadway in a musical. He wouldn't say what, but we all know the rumors.

That's the kind of star power a revival on Broadway needs.

Let the Londoners go back to their waiter jobs after their little show wraps.